Kate has particular and wide-ranging expertise in environmental law. She also practises generally in the areas of European Union, public international, human rights, and domestic public law.
Her recent work includes acting on behalf of the Government of Argentina in proceedings before the ICJ in a case concerning the construction of pulp mills on the River Uruguay and advising a number of NGOs on the climate change negotiations (ongoing).
She has appeared in a range of judicial review cases involving EU and human rights challenges to the hunting ban; arms export licences, the Gurkhas’ challenge to discriminatory practices in the British Army and the legality of public private partnership arrangements for London Underground.
She regularly advises NGOs, international organisations and others on European and WTO issues in areas such as animal welfare and environmental protection, most recently on amendments to the EU restrictions on trade in seal skins and on controls on international trade in timber.
Notable public international law cases include:
- Argentina v Uruguay (Pulp mills) (ICJ) (judgment pending)
- USA v European Union (Genetically Modified Organisms (ICJ)-
- Croatia v Fry (ICJ) (genocide) (ongoing)
Before joining Matrix, Kate worked for six years as a lawyer in the former Department of the Environment (International & EC Division), where she gained extensive experience of European litigation and international negotiations.
She lectures and publishes widely on environmental law, the international law of development and human rights law. She is the sole author of Wildlife Law: Conservation and Biodiversity (Cameron May, 2004). Kate is a contributor to Human Rights Practice, ed. Simor (Sweet & Maxwell).
Professional Training and other experience:
Legal Advisor, Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, International & EC Legal Division (1993 - 2000)
1999/2000 LLM, New York University Law School (International Legal Studies)
Stage (Middle Temple: Bristow Award) with the Legal Service of the EC Commission and at the European Court of Justice (1991 - 1992)
Research officer with Industrial Relations Law Bulletin (IRS) (1993)